Paul Treu’s side have drawn New Zealand and Wales in their pool for the Wellington leg of the IRB Sevens Series.

The Blitzboks have got their title defence off to a poor start, bowing out in the Cup quarter-finals in the first two legs in Dubai and George. In their current form, they’ll struggle to progress to the knockouts ahead of the series log-leaders or incumbent Sevens World Cup holders.

Both quarter-final exits have come at the hands of Fiji, and to avoid another play-off showdown with the islanders, the Boks will have to win their pool.